Marriage Counseling

My marriage counseling model is not a typical one. My sessions are blocks of many hours at a time. It takes time to get warmed up during a session, to identify underlying problems, and to discover new solutions. With extended sessions, the time pressure is off and the atmosphere for dialogue is more natural, allowing the individuals to bring up important information as they are ready and able. Thus, there is often resolution to certain problems brought up in the session.

The purpose of this approach is to help couples:

Work through problems and conflicts faster

Re-establish intimacy, and create a deeper level of trust

Eliminate or reduce anxiety or hopelessness by providing a deeper understanding of what has been going on

Bring balance back to the relationship, avoiding power struggles and the need for control

Achieve honest, respectful two-way communication that stops arguments

Balance individual and couple/family needs

Build intimacy without sacrificing the need for one's own space

Develop the art of reconciliation - a very tender yet powerful and indispensable tool for building trust, love and peace in relationships of "imperfect" people

Help clients with a special interest in faith-based counseling explore how applying the psychological wisdom embedded in the Christian Catholic faith offers great resources and tools that can help heal marital dysfunctions

Family Counseling

Parents can best facilitate healing and healthy growth in their children. We experience the best and fastest results when addressing family problems through the parents. Parents must have tools and support to develop their own relationship and quality of communication.

Once the parents can communicate and problem-solve with each other, they will be able to do so efficiently with every other member of the family, thus providing the best possible security net for the integrity and psychological health of the family.

Integrative family counseling accomplishes the desired results through a combination of the following:

Marital counseling and enrichment (also applicable to single parents in a revised version)

Psychological education

Parental training

Individual counseling, as needed

Group sessions with entire family, whenever indicated

Reconciliation Meetings

Many families carry heavy baggage of emotional pain and distressstemming from repetitive unresolved conflicts, arguments, fights etc.This unresolved emotional baggage greatly limits the capacity of the family to function smoothly and experience joy and satisfaction in their life together. Unresolved conflicts set the stage for more conflicts, thus perpetuating a dangerous vicious cycle.The Integrative Counseling Program addresses these family dysfunctions through family counseling with a special focus on healing through reconciliation. Reconciliation is a process where family members in conflict can meet each other in the presence of the counselor and help each other evaluate their own responsibility for the conflict. This process can be challenging and will often go through tender and vulnerable phases. Hence it is crucial that the mediation and guidance by the counselor is gentle and loving and fair to all parties involved.The goals of reconciliation is accomplished when repentance and forgiveness takes place, and everybody involved will benefit. The love in the family is deepened and the hope for a better future is strengthened.The initial phase is typically that the counselor meets with each family member individually in order to clarify their personal understanding of the problem. Wediscuss what they want to bring to the meeting and what they hope to get out of it. In this phase the person also receives help to preapare to show up with realistic expectations.

However, whether the ideal goal is achieved or not, reconciliation meetings are for most families the first opportunity they have ever had to sit down together and discuss difficult issues in a loving and secure setting where everybody is given time to speak their opinions– and be heard.That in itself is almost always very healing and generates new trust and hope for a better future for the family.

Phone Counseling

While direct face-to-face interaction is the most effective form of counseling, phone counseling has proven to work well for those who require an alternative.

How is phone counseling arranged?

A free introductory phone conversation/interview is arranged to help us get acquainted and discuss practicalities. Should you decide to continue with phone counseling, scheduling and payment arrangements are determined for proceeding.

Can marital counseling also be done over the phone?

Yes. First, I interview each party separately so I can gain a thorough understanding of both sides. We discuss how their own personal issues relate to the marital problem, and what they can do to deal with these issues more constructively. When we are ready, we proceed with all three of us on the line for a constructive dialogue that I facilitate with a focus on enhancing each party's communication skills and their ability to see their own and their spouse's situation from a new perspective.

If you would like to set up phone counseling, contact me to schedule an initial consultation.